NIH awards $1.46 million to fund Children's Mercy-Truman-UMKC Center for Neonatal Research

KANSAS CITY, MO -- The NIH's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development announced a five year grant totaling $1,463,866 for The Children's Mercy-Truman-UMKC Center, one of only 18 NIH-funded Neonatal Research Network centers in the nation, and the only one in Missouri or Kansas. This new Neonatal Research Network site at Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics will conduct clinical trials and observational studies in neonatal medicine in order to reduce infant morbidity and mortality and promote healthy outcomes.

"This grant will allow us to test new therapies and interventions to improve outcomes of today's and tomorrow's high risk term and preterm infants; and will change practice for the better," said William Truog, MD, principal investigator, Children's Mercy neonatologist and Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the UMKC School of Medicine.

"The new network builds upon existing research and capabilities throughout Children's Mercy and our community, and will benefit infants and their families throughout the region," said Randall L. O'Donnell, PhD, President and CEO of Children's Mercy.

The Children's Mercy-Truman-UMKC Center will continue the collaboration between the three institutions, and leverage the expertise of the region's only advanced Level IIIc neonatal intensive care nursery at Children's Mercy; the Elizabeth J. Ferrell Fetal Health Center at Children's Mercy, a collaboration with Truman Medical Center and the UMKC School of Medicine; the Children's Mercy Center for Infant Pulmonary Disorders, which provides clinical research in neonatal disorders; and the academic strength of the departments of pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology at the UMKC School of Medicine.

"The UMKC School of Medicine and our affiliated hospital partners have a long history of collaboration and, together, play an invaluable role in advancing the health of our community, our state and our region," said Betty M. Drees, M.D., dean of the UMKC School of Medicine. "The awarding of this grant and the establishment of this new center is an affirmation of the strength of our partnerships and our shared clinical and research missions."

This Children's Mercy-Truman-UMKC Center grant was supported by Award Number U10HD068284 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors, and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development or the National Institutes of Health.

About TMC

Truman Medical Centers is a not-for-profit two acute-care hospital health system in Kansas City. The TMC Health System includes TMC Hospital Hill, TMC Lakewood, TMC Behavioral Health, the Jackson County Health Departments and a number of primary care practices throughout Eastern Jackson County. Recently named one of the nation's top academic medical centers, TMC is the primary teaching hospital for the University of Missouri-Kansas City Schools of Health Sciences and specializes in asthma, bariatrics, diabetes, women's health, and trauma services. For more information, please call (816) 404-3785 or visit www.trumed.org.

About Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics

Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, located in Kansas City, Mo., is one of the nation's top pediatric medical centers. The 314-bed hospital provides care for children from birth through the age of 18, and has been recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet designation for excellence in nursing services, and ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of "America's Best Children's Hospitals." Its faculty of 600 pediatricians and researchers across more than 40 subspecialties are actively involved in clinical care, pediatric research, and educating the next generation of pediatric subspecialists. For more information about Children's Mercy and its research, visit childrensmercy.org or download our mobile phone app CMH4YOU for all phone types. For breaking news and videos, follow us on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.

About the UMKC School of Medicine

The UMKC School of Medicine was founded in 1971 as an innovative combined degree program. From its baccalaureate/MD curriculum to a docent system that emphasizes small group learning, the school has remained a trendsetter in medical education and research. For more information about the UMKC School of Medicine, visit
www.med.umkc.edu/. You can also find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

About the University of Missouri-Kansas City

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit
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